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Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Inside The Extravagant London Weddings Of Super-Rich Nigerians Who Spend 150 Million Naira On A Dress, 100, Million Naira On Bubbly And 1. 5 Million On Favours


A traditional Nigerian wedding held at Porchester Hall pictured in Channel 5 documentary Eamonn & Ruth: How The Other Half Lives
A traditional Nigerian wedding held at Porchester Hall pictured in Channel 5 documentary Eamonn & Ruth: How The Other Half Lives

The Daily Mail has featured the extravagant London weddings of super rich Nigerians in a new report that was based on a documentary by Channel 5.

According to the publication

Every bride wants to look a million dollars when they tie the knot – and affluent women from Nigeria are spending just that to achieve it on their big days.

Ruth Langsford meets Elizabeth Aisien, centre, who says it isn't unusual for wealthy Nigerians to spend £1m on their wedding day
Ruth Langsford meets Elizabeth Aisien, centre, who says it isn't unusual for wealthy Nigerians to spend £1m on their wedding day

'It is not unusual to spend a million. One of the weddings I planned spent £50,000 just on flowers,' she reveals on Channel 5 show Eamonn & Ruth: How The Other Half Lives.

According to a London-based wedding planner, super-rich couples from the West African country can easily blow a small fortune on their nuptials, from spending £100,000 on a designer wedding dress to £150,000 on alcohol.
A model tries on a Vera Wang wedding gown worth £100,000, such dresses are in demand with Nigerian brides
A model tries on a Vera Wang wedding gown worth £100,000, such dresses are in demand with Nigerian brides



In-demand event maestro CEO and founder of Prive Luxury Events Elizabeth Aisien says London has become the destination of choice for Africa’s wealthy elite when they tie the knot.

‘It’s a competition, people want something like “wow, she arrived by plane”. The bride wants to look good and wear the best of everything.’

As a result, she said brides will pay around £100,000 for a bespoke dress by a designer like Vera Wang and £475,000 on diamond jewellery.


Ruth visits a Vera Wang shop with wedding planner Elizabeth Aisien, far left. While there, a jeweller, second from left, brings diamond earrings, pictured front right, for Elizabeth to chose on behalf of her rich client 
Ruth visits a Vera Wang shop with wedding planner Elizabeth Aisien, far left. While there, a jeweller, second from left, brings diamond earrings, pictured front right, for Elizabeth to chose on behalf of her rich client

She added that it is not just the bride who will push the boat out on the gems they wear to accessorise an expensive outfit.

‘The other women want to make a statement, “I wore this diamond, my diamond is bigger than yours”,’ Elizabeth explained.
The luxurious Dorchester hotel is a popular wedding venue for affulent Nigerian couples
The luxurious Dorchester hotel is a popular wedding venue for affulent Nigerian couples


She added that the venues of choice for weddings and receptions are up-market London hotels including The Dorcester, The Landmark Hotel and Claridges.

She added: ‘Kensington Palace is another favourite for Nigerians now.’
The Landmark Hotel in London is another popular wedding venue for uber-rich couples
The Landmark Hotel in London is another popular wedding venue for uber-rich couples


According to the Historic Royal Palaces, prices for weddings at the Palace start from £12,500 exclusive of catering and VAT.

Elizabeth said after forking out to look her best, a bride will then spend a fortune wining and dining her guests – all three thousand of them.
Thousands are spent on Nigerians weddings, like the one pictured on the Channel 5 documentary


She explained: ‘They will spend the most money on Champagne as you have two to three thousand guests at a traditional Nigerian wedding and they will get a bottle of Champagne each.’

This means at an average Nigerian wedding, £150,000 will be spent on booze.

And it’s not just food and drink lavished on the guests. While at British weddings, attendees may get a token favour like a chocolate, at affluent Nigerian weddings, they will get a gift bag worth thousands.

A bride is pictured walking up the aisle on the show, as wedding planner Elizabeth reveals it's all about making a statement of wealth
A bride is pictured walking up the aisle on the show, as wedding planner Elizabeth reveals it's all about making a statement of wealth

Such a bag might contain a £345 perfume, a cashmere scarf worth £350 and a £5,000 watch.

With such luxuries being given out at weddings, it is perhaps no surprise that according to Tatler, every third pound currently spent in Harrods is by a Nigerian.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy as the Niger Delta region in the south holds some of the world’s richest oil reserves. A recent world wealth study found the number of millionaires in Nigeria has risen about 305 percent since 2000.
Five bridesmaids accompanied one Nigerian bride showing how no expense is spared


Many of affluent Nigerians are moving to London – helping the city become home to the most billionaires than any other city in the world.

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